Hydraulic caisson



Jan. s, i929. 1,698,40

W. R. TAYLOR HYDRAULI C CAI S S ON Filed may is, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Jan. s, 1929. A1,698,460

' W. R. TAYLOR HYDRAULIC CAI SSON Filed May 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 8, 1,929.

IT 'if'. s T

vurmnnaiit n. TAYLOR, or eLAnENDoN, vmermii.

vnnuaire CAISSON.

application and lmay 1s,

This invention relates to the construction of hydraulic caissons and like structures for laying foundation work, particularly in sand and mud bottoms.

In the placing of caissons and the like which are generally floated to the work and lowered by their own or artificial weight, resistance is offered to the sinking of the structure by the adhesion of the sand and mud bottom against the sides thereof. It has been proposed to break up this adhesion by the introduction of various forms of jets of air or water' under pressure thru the sides of the structure to facilitate the passage of the structure into the' bottom. All of the devices of this character heretofore provided with jets suitably positioned for advantageous results are both cumbersome and expensive in application, while pressure supply lines to the jets are diiicult in maintenance particularly with large and remote installations. One object of my invention is to provide a. caisson or like structure which.y may be readilyV located and sunk into position without the .provision of expensive jet installations.

A further obj ect of my invention isl to provide a structure of the character above described, whichis simple and inex ensive in construction, and which effective y acts to dissipate theresistance offered to its sinking caused by adhesion of the sand or mud bottoms to the sides thereof.

A further object is to provide a caisson or like structure whose rate of sinking and level during such sinking may be eectively controne.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexedI drawing and in art indicated from the following analysis o the invention, in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of m idea.

n the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken along lines 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan of a complete rectangular calsson;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view pf the wall `tonstruction showing water openings or oris; y Fig. 4 is a detail of the cutting edge of the caisson;

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary section thru the walls and channel members of the caisson;

1927. Seriall No. 191,727.

Fig. 9 is a detail in perspective of the plates J and orifice.

Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed for purposes of illustration a caisson of rectangular shape, but it will be understood that the general shape of the structure is immaterial and depends onthe foundation sought to be laid and the particular place and conditions under which it is to be used. The caisson comprises Ainner and'outer sections, the outer section being formed of walls 1 and 2, and the inner section being formed of walls 3 and 4, the sections being spaced by a chamber 7 therebetween.` The Walls 1 and 2 are separated by channel plates 5 to form a water compartment 6 therebetween. Tlie walls 3 and if are similari spaced by channel plates 5 and form a secon water compartment 6a. The said channel plates are provided with openings 9 to permit ree passage of the-water throughout the re-y spective water com art-ments. f

' In the chamber g, it is proposed to place concrete, rock or other materials, to accelerate the sinkin of the caisson to the proper level, and it will be understood that this tilling may either remain therein or be removed, depending upon the particular installation. The foundation is laid' in the central chamber 8, from which the water may be pumped or otherwise removed. The bottom portions of the inner and outer sections incline towards each other to form a cutting edge, the walls 1 and 4 being fastened to an angle iron 10 of V-shape, to which the channel plates 5 are also fastened as by bolts 17 To provide e adequate strength to the structure9 as well as a ready connection between the angle 10 and channelI plates 5,1 provide gusset plates 11 bolted to said parts as indicated at 17 and which are provided with `holes 12 for the passage of water therethru. A longitudinally extending late 18 is provided between walls 2 and 3 to orm a bottom for the weight compartment 7. f

The walls 1 and 4 are formed of plates lapped upwardly (see Figs. 8 and 9) anda seam 14 is 'consequently formed along the lap. At intervalsalong the seam, I provide than they are wide, and are arranged in' staggered relation, to thus direct a atfjet water upwardly along the walls. By reference to F ig. l, the calsson structure extends above the water level, andlsuilicient water is maintained in the compartments 6 and 6% to provide a pressure head therein actingto force water thru the orifices. understood that the walls of the structure areadapted to be built upwardly as it sinks, or when necessary, by adding extra plates and framework.

By reason of varying bottom structures or conditions thereof, it has been found that one e-nd of the caisson may sink faster and thus reach a different level from the' other end thereof. A To obviate this undesirable feature,l I may place solid or imperforate channels 16 at intervals between the Walls l, 2 and 3, 4 and in the Water compartments 6 and 6a, the channels being fastened to the angle 10 and gusset plates 11, thus forming subcompartments in the main water' compartments 6 and 6a. If one end of the caisson is found to be sinking faster or to a greater depth than the other end, the supply of water to the said compartments of the lowerlevel is cut off and the jets thru orifices 13 of those compartments are discontinued until the caisson has sunk level.

l/Vater issupplied to the compartments 6 and 6a and to the individual sub-compartments therein b any suitable means such as a supply line elivering to av plurality of funnels 22, of which one is shown (Fi s. l and 2), and which fit over the tops o the walls and may overlie the plates 5 or 16, depending on'the sub-compartment sought to be sup lied with water.

It will be evidentfrom the above description that, as the caisson sinks into the bottom, the upwardly directed jets issuing thru orice 13 serve as a 4lubricant and also ass'ist in breaking the adhesion of the mud or sand to the sides of the structure. The construction jof the caisson generally and orifices therein being simple and practical, increased economy and greater utility results.

It will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As many changes could be made in'carrying out the above invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in lthe accompanying 'drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. g

I claim 1. A caisson comprising: inner and outer sectionsspaoed to provide a weight compartment therebetween, each of said sections comprising outer and inner walls formed of lonment therebetween, each of said sections com- It `will be water 'compartments between the walls of the respective sections, and means formed on the relatively outermost and innermost Walls permitting and causing jets of water from the water compartments to be directed upwardly along said walls.

2. A caisson comprising inner and outer sections spaced to provide a weight compartprising outer and inner walls formed of lonv gitudinally extending plates and providing Water compartments between the walls of the respective sections, the plates of the relatively outermost and linnermost .walls being overlapped u wardly to form a seam, and means forme in the seams to direct a pluralityv of jets of water from the Water compartments upwardly along said walls.

3. A caissoucomprising inner and ,outer sections spaced -to provide a weight compartment therebetween, each of said sections comprising outer and inner walls formed of longitudinally Iextending plates and providing water compartments between the walls of the respective sections, the' plates of the relativel outermost and innermost wallsY being overlapped upwardly to form a seam, bulges formed at intervals along the seams to provide a plurality of orifices adapted to ldirect a plurality of jets of water from .the water compartments upwardly along said walls.

y 4. A caisson comprising inner and outer sections spaced to provide a weight compartment therebetween, each of said sections comwu prising outer and inner walls formed of longitudinally extendin plates and providing water compartments etween the walls of the respective sections, the plates of the relatively outermost and innermost walls bein overlapped upwardly to form a seam, ulges formed at intervals along the seams to provide a plurality of orifices in staggered relation adapted to direct a plurality of jets of water from the water compartments upwardly along said walls.

5. A caisson comprising inner andouter sections spaced to provide a weight compa-rtment therebetween, each of said sections comprising outer and inner Walls formed of longitudinally extending plates, and channel members extending between the walls of the respective sections to form water compartments, and having openings formed thereln to permit passage of water therethru.

6. A caisson comprising inner and outer sections spaced to provide a weight compartmentv therebetween, each of said sections comprising outer and inner walls. formed of longitudinally extending plates2 and imperfo- 125 rate channel members extending at intervals between 'the walls of the respective sections and providing a plurality of water compartments in each of said sections.

7. A caisson comprising inner and outer 130 vsections spaced to provide a weight compartment therebetween, each of said sections comprising outer and inner walls formed of longitudinally extending plates, channel niembers extending between said walls and forming water compartments in said sections, the plates of the relatively outermost and innermost walls being overlapped upwardly to form a seam therebetween, and means formed in the seams to direct-a plurality of jets of water from the water compartments upwardly along said Walls. v

9. A caisson comprising inner and outer Sections spaced to provide a compartment therebetween, each of said sections comprising outer andinner walls formed of longitudinally extending plates, channel members extending between said walls and forming Water compartments insaid sections, the plates of the relatively outermost and innermost Walls: being overlapped upwardly to form a seam therebetween, and bulges formed at intervals along the seams to provide a pluralit of orifices adapted to direct jets of Water rom said water compartments upwardly along said walls.

10. A wall for caissons or like structures comprising a series of longitudinally extending plates in partially overlapped relation, and bulges formed in the plates at intervals along-the seams resulting from such overlapping to provide orifices for the emission of water retained by the wall. r

11. A wall for caissons or like structures comprising a series of longitudinally extending plates in partially overlapped relation, and bulges formed in the plates at intervals along the seams resulting from such overlapping and in staggered relation to the bulges of adjacent seams.

' WILLIAM R. TAYLOR. 

